Armenia to Send Under-17 Wrestling Team to Baku in First Sports Visit Since 2020 Artsakh War

Armenia will send its U17 national wrestling team to the World Championships in Baku later this month — the first time Armenian athletes have traveled to Azerbaijan for an international sporting event since the 2020 Artsakh War.

The championship, scheduled for July 27 through Aug. 2, comes despite years of hostility between the two countries, the continued detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan and ongoing concerns over the safety of Armenians entering the country.

According to the Armenian Wrestling Federation, nearly 20 Armenian wrestlers will compete in the tournament.

The decision represents a significant shift after Armenia previously declined to participate in sporting events hosted by Azerbaijan over security concerns. In 2023, the Armenian national shooting team withdrew from the World Shooting Championships in Baku despite initially registering for the competition, citing safety risks.

OC Media reported that Armenia had also initially decided not to send its wrestlers to this year's championship before reversing the decision shortly before the event. Armenian officials have not publicly explained what led to the change.

Sarkhan Musayev, spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Wrestling Federation, told OC Media that Azerbaijani authorities would guarantee the Armenian delegation's safety.

"Initially, the Armenian team was not planning to participate — this was widely reported in the Armenian press as well — but they changed their minds, and we will ensure their complete safety," Musayev said.

Armenian athletes have competed in Azerbaijan before, including at the 2007 Senior Wrestling World Championships in Baku and the 2015 European Games. However, no Armenian team has traveled to Azerbaijan since the 2020 war.

The trip comes as international organizations and governments continue to raise concerns about Azerbaijan's treatment of Armenians. The U.S. State Department's travel advisory notes that Azerbaijani authorities have, at times, detained individuals from Armenia or those with Armenian surnames for questioning or denied them entry into the country.

Concerns over anti-Armenian sentiment have persisted for years. Human rights organizations have documented hate speech and discrimination against Armenians in Azerbaijan, while the two countries remain deeply divided following the wars over Artsakh. Although Azerbaijan has rejected allegations that it systematically discriminates against people of Armenian origin, such concerns have influenced previous decisions by Armenian athletes to avoid competitions held there.

Musayev told OC Media that Azerbaijani state agencies and security services had coordinated to ensure the Armenian delegation would face no problems entering, staying in or leaving the country. He also said Azerbaijani wrestlers had been instructed to avoid political statements and treat all competitors with respect.

The Armenian delegation is expected to stay at the Baku Athletes' Village during the competition.

Not all athletes of Armenian descent have chosen to compete in Azerbaijan. According to OC Media, U.S. wrestler Galust Torosian declined to participate in the U17 World Championships, citing safety concerns. Russian wrestlers of Armenian descent are expected to take part.

The tournament will be closely watched in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, not only for the athletic competition but also as a rare instance of direct contact between the two nations since the 2020 Artsakh War. For many Armenians, the decision carries added weight as it comes while Armenian prisoners remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan and no comprehensive peace agreement has yet been signed.

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